Automotive Reviews
Posts tagged sport sedan
2005.5 Volkswagen Jetta
Oct 31st
Volkswagens have a way of becoming your friend, with their sporty reflexes and spirited driving dynamics. Add reasonable pricing to that equation and it’s not hard to see why many young (and young-at heart) buyers are drawn to the brand. VW’s compact Jetta sedan has found its way into a large number of first-time buyers’ hands, but as time marches on and these customers mature, the old Jetta is beginning to seem a bit…juvenile.
Considering the changing needs and desires of its young and young-at-heart customers, VW’s all-new fifth-generation Jetta’s mission in life is to grow with the its current customers, rather than to urge them into another model. The new Jetta is larger, more luxurious and better-built, but an effort has been made to retain its playful spirit. The new car should appeal to old Jetta owners as well as a whole new demographic. More >
2010 Aston Martin Rapide
Oct 23rd
An Aston Martin? Well, that’s a first for me. I don’t usually get to meet the exotics–to be honest, eight times out of ten they get crashed by another automotive journalist before I get a chance. So, when the Aston Martin Rapide turned up, I got in line fast.
Aston Martins have always been deceptive exotics. The word “exotic car” conjures images of svelte Italian sports cars wailing sonorously along the high banks of race tracks and burbling through high-dollar neighborhoods. Aston Martins have traditionally been burlier, bulkier vehicles–no less refined or sharp-edged in terms of performance, but perhaps not quite so delicate. Like Bentley, Aston Martin’s history as a “gentlemen’s car” injects a hint of manly-man grunt into the high-dollar, high performance chassis.
Interestingly, the new Aston Martin Rapide bucks that trend, cleaving much closer to the dream-car aesthetic and feel of a proper exotic. This is perhaps somewhat ironic, since the Rapide is also a step away from traditional exotic cars thanks to its four doors. The Rapide is, after all, the first four-door Aston Martin since 1989. With Maserati, Porsche, Bentley and even Rolls-Royce all getting into the ultra-luxury sports sedan game, it’s not such a surprise to see that Aston Martin has joined the club. The Rapide offers transport for four passengers, in ridiculous comfort and at ridiculous speeds, should one be so inclined. More >
2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution MR
Sep 15th
You’ve certainly met Mitsubishi’s Lancer Evolution before. This four-door sports car is hard to miss, thanks to wild fender flares, huge wheels and an assortment of other body modifications that indicate this car’s long, proud rally-racing heritage and the performance goodies that lie beneath.
But what’s this? The latest Evolution looks downright demure–the dramatic spoilers and wings are no more. The most extravagant racer-boy components are gone, leaving a muscular but much more subtle style. Has Mitsubishi clipped the Evolution’s performance wings as well? Do not fear. Though it’s going for a more upscale look, the Evolution MR still provides crazy, turbocharged, all-wheel drive thrills as its modus operandi.
More >